Alasdair Gray

What strange secret made rich, beautiful, tempestuous Bella Baxter irresistible to the poor Scottish medical student Archie McCandless? Was it her mysterious origin in the home of his monstrous friend Godwin Baxter, the genius whose voice could perforate eardrums? This story of true love and scientific daring whirls the reader from the private operating-theatres of late-Victorian Glasgow through aristocratic casinos, low-life Alexandria and a Parisian bordello, reaching an interrupted climax in a Scottish church.

Poor Things

Rania

Grace Frost

"Then he deprived me of childhood and schooling by suggesting I was not mentally me when I first met him, but my baby daughter. Having invented this equality of depravation for all of us he could then easily describe how I loved him at first sight, and how God envied him! But of course, Archie was no lunatic. He knew his book was a cunning lie."

"You, dear reader, have now two accounts to choose between and there can be no doubt which is most probable. My second husband's story positively stinks of all that was morbid in that most morbid of centuries, the nineteenth."

"Small, awkward McCandless fell as passionately in love with God as I had done. He loved me too, of course, but only because he saw me as God's female part - the part he could embrace and enter. But God was the first great love of his life, and the love was not returned."

Princess Doe 

Oh the book is LEAGUES better than the film. 

After seeing the film, I was incessantly bothered by the sense that something was amiss - that there was a misreading of the source material someway somehow. Then again, I thought to myself, I had been following Yorgos' filmography up until that point, and had developed a fondness over his style. His last movie, The Favourite, is one of my favorite films, in fact. So I just thought it was an artistic choice to go down the path he and Emma did. Still, it left a sour taste in my mouth. This quandary persisted in my brain, that I was compelled to pick up the book and read it myself, if only to confirm or disavow my suspicions.

It's bonkers to me how the film's creators chose to go with McCandless' side of the story, when the book itself is a clear criticism of "nice guys" having no regard for women's autonomy and thinking their judgment better than the woman's. 

avery

Oh the book is LEAGUES better than the film. 

After seeing the film, I was incessantly bothered by the sense that something was amiss - that there was a misreading of the source material someway somehow. Then again, I thought to myself, I had been following Yorgos' filmography up until that point, and had developed a fondness over his style. His last movie, The Favourite, is one of my favorite films, in fact. So I just thought it was an artistic choice to go down the path he and Emma did. Still, it left a sour taste in my mouth. This quandary persisted in my brain, that I was compelled to pick up the book and read it myself, if only to confirm or disavow my suspicions.

It's bonkers to me how the film's creators chose to go with McCandless' side of the story, when the book itself is a clear criticism of "nice guys" having no regard for women's autonomy and thinking their judgment better than the woman's. 

Ryan Mateyk

One of the most, if not the most, creatively and wisely crafted books I’ve ever read. Such a fun unique take on Victorian sensationalism. Excited to see the big screen adaptation!

What a strange and incredible book. I loved it. 

Rebecca Harwood

An excellent read. Takes ideas from other books and masterfully uses them to create an original story about what it means to be a woman who aspires to be free and love whoever she wants. 

Lorenzo Barretta

An excellent read. Takes ideas from other books and masterfully uses them to create an original story about what it means to be a woman who aspires to be free and love whoever she wants. 

Highly recommended.

“You think you are about to possess what men have hopelessly yearned for throughout the ages: the soul of an innocent, trusting, dependent child inside the opulent body of a radiantly lovely woman. I will not allow it, Baxter.”

Filled with medical illustrations reminiscent of the 19th century, 

 has an essence of mystery and humor from the very beginning. It has such a strong start that it pulls you right into the pages of this weird, unexpected retelling of sorts.

Oh the joys of following an unreliable narrator!

The story takes a disturbing turn very early on as Bella, essentially a child in a woman’s body, is admired, pursued, and manipulated by men in full knowledge of her state. It feels abusive, predatory, which is of course the critique on the masculine nature as it is highlighted again and again. It is nonetheless still disturbing to read. That is, until we actually get to know Bella. The idea that these grown men thinking they are the big bad wolves preying on an innocent, doe-like woman, only to be completely destroyed by Bella Baxter is just hilarious.

By the middle, the story does get a bit lost while trying to indulge in a bit of superficial philosophy about the hypocrisies of the world (which also continues at the very end, completely forcing the reader back out of the story). The ideas are rather played out and nothing truly earth-shattering, but it does manage to keep an entertaining and reflective tone nonetheless.

As far as the Frankenstein comparison goes, I believe that 

 has played on a specific point very well. Godwin Baxter is the kind of brilliant monster that Dr. Frankenstein could never be: genius, selfish, yet self-aware, repentant, and open minded. He knows the evil he has committed since the beginning, but is helpless against the awe and love towards his creation. It is a redemptive arc in a way, if this is an act that is ever capable of being redeemed at all.

Except, the story is turned around on its head again and again, losing its warmth but gaining depth with great cleverness as you progress.

It was just overall a very strange but somehow enjoyable read.

“You think you are about to possess what men have hopelessly yearned for throughout the ages: the soul of an innocent, trusting, dependent child inside the opulent body of a radiantly lovely woman. I will not allow it, Baxter.”

---------------------------------

Filled with medical illustrations reminiscent of the 19th century, Poor Things has an essence of mystery and humor from the very beginning. It has such a strong start that it pulls you right into the pages of this weird, unexpected retelling of sorts.

Oh the joys of following an unreliable narrator!

The story takes a disturbing turn very early on as Bella, essentially a child in a woman’s body, is admired, pursued, and manipulated by men in full knowledge of her state. It feels abusive, predatory, which is of course the critique on the masculine nature as it is highlighted again and again. It is nonetheless still disturbing to read. That is, until we actually get to know Bella. The idea that these grown men thinking they are the big bad wolves preying on an innocent, doe-like woman, only to be completely destroyed by Bella Baxter is just hilarious.
By the middle, the story does get a bit lost while trying to indulge in a bit of superficial philosophy about the hypocrisies of the world (which also continues at the very end, completely forcing the reader back out of the story). The ideas are rather played out and nothing truly earth-shattering, but it does manage to keep an entertaining and reflective tone nonetheless.

As far as the Frankenstein comparison goes, I believe that Poor Things has played on a specific point very well. Godwin Baxter is the kind of brilliant monster that Dr. Frankenstein could never be: genius, selfish, yet self-aware, repentant, and open minded. He knows the evil he has committed since the beginning, but is helpless against the awe and love towards his creation. It is a redemptive arc in a way, if this is an act that is ever capable of being redeemed at all.

Except, the story is turned around on its head again and again, losing its warmth but gaining depth with great cleverness as you progress.

It was just overall a very strange but somehow enjoyable read.




Stick around to hear Bella/Victoria's perspective at the end.

g.m.

A book set within its own book, footnotes, acknowledgements, amazing build up of fiction that seemed rather edging on true life. Amazing how I had never heard of this book if it werent for Yorgos Lanthimos so thank you Alasdair Gray for this exquisite yet at times comedic journey, and thank you Yorgos for helping put up visual characters in my brain.

diya

the first book i have read and completed in 2024, it is one that reminds me of how for centuries, not much has change. still men thinks they can dictate what is to be of the world, how those in power still think inferior of others who are also human beings. how cruel humanity is. and how we are all poor things. 

Kira L

When I started this book, I had low expectations about the storyline because what else can there be about a doctor bringing an "erotomaniac" woman back to life with her baby's brain? It never fell into predictable territory, not a single time. 'Poor Things' is an expectational criticism of men's idiocy, especially in the Victorian Period. Victoria/Bella is such a strong character, especially in her letter, I could easily read a thousand books from her perspective.

Poor Things

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